In softball, good hitting is about contacting the ball squarely coupled with bat speed. If a player wants the ball he’s hitting to travel farther and faster, he needs to develop quick bat speed. This can be done with good mechanics and a bat you can control. When shopping for new softball bats, you’ll be better off buying a cheaper model first and putting your money on hitting lessons from a good coach.

When trying out a new bat, make sure you can control it. Have a baseball expert watch you swing and make sure there isn’t a big hitch in the swing. You can also hold the bat out in front of you with one hand. If you can cling to the bat for 20-30 seconds without having your hands drop, you’ll be okay.